Character to win over cash

SOL CAMPBELL insists Arsenal should not worry about Chelsea’s huge spending power ahead of today’s Highbury showdown, insisting the Gunners’ “skill and character” can still carry them to the Premiership title.

Arsenal, who spent only £2m this summer, host Chelsea, who spent £100m as they look to reinforce their threatened position as London's leading club.

However, Campbell maintained the Gunners would be ready to compete in the transfer market once again in the New Year.

More immediately, he believes they can cope without Martin Keown and Fredrik Ljungberg and Patrick Vieira, who is suspended today but is also doubtful for Tuesday's Champions League tie at Dynamo Kiev through injury.

Campbell insisted: "Chelsea are a great outfit. They've got a backer who is prepared to put money into the club and obviously that helps.

"They were a good team before and now they've acquired some great players. So, of course, they are up there as serious contenders, but it is early days and there's a long way to go as we well know.

"At the end of the day you can only play 11 against 11. Manchester United also have money to spend but we are still up there challenging with them.

"Anything can happen in a game and as long as you've got skill and character, you can go all the way."

While Chelsea have been turned around by Roman Abramovich's fortune, Arsenal have had to scrimp and save as they attempt to finance their new £400m stadium.

But Campbell reckoned: "I honestly feel Arsenal will sort out the stadium and then have money to acquire some other players when the transfer window opens.

"I think Arsenal are such a massive club, there will be people queuing up to fill the gap we need."

Arsene Wenger similarly accepts Chelsea are genuine title contenders, but still believes his side have the mental strength to prevail not only tomorrow but in the championship as a whole.

The Frenchman said: "My players want to fight for the championship. They know that, with the potential of Chelsea, this is a game we want to win as matches against other title contenders are so important.

"For example, losing away against Man United last season and drawing at home cost us the championship.

"Chelsea have unlimited resources so they thought the way to do it, maybe, was to get two teams and to rotate the players.

"For an opponent, it's very difficult to predict who will play against you but the disadvantage is maybe they rotate to find an ideal balance.

"Over the years, we've not lost many games in the championship and have shown the mental resources to be on top of them. I hope this will be the same again."

Claudio Ranieri still insists his top-of-the-table all-star team are the underdogs at Highbury.

Chelsea have not won a league game at Highbury since 1990 and Ranieri admits: "We still have to close a gap on them.

"I'm pleased for my players, for what they have done, but I know the way ahead is long. I don't know if people believe me but I will be happy [this season] if we achieve more than we did last season [when Chelsea finished fourth ]."

Ranieri also insists he will continue to juggle with his players in the way that has earned him the nickname 'Tinkerman'.

He said: "I'm changing players but the team are still playing well. And I know players are not happy to be left out but I don't want them to be happy if they are."

With Marcel Desailly, William Gallas, Emmanuel Petit and Juan Sebastian Veron all out injured, even Ranieri is struggling for options in some positions. Romanian striker Adrian Mutu, however, looks certain to return to lead the attack.

Claudio Ranieri and Frank Lampard have won the Barclaycard Manager and Player of the Month Awards for September.